Welcome back to Monday Morning Lights, our new feature that will shed more light on the high school football weekend and peek ahead to the new week. (If you haven’t already, please subscribe.)
Hey NCS, are so many blowouts necessary?
The one thing about high school football in California is it’s never been one size fits all. Playoff formats vary from one section to the next, oftentimes dramatically.
In the Bay Area, the two largest sectional governing bodies under the California Interscholastic Federation umbrella — Central Coast and North Coast — speak different languages when it comes to dividing, selecting and seeding football teams.
The CCS follows a tedious but effective points system model until the morning of its seeding meeting, aiming to create the most competitively balanced playoff brackets possible. Enrollment means nothing in the CCS model, which made its debut in 2019. If you’re really good, you’re in a sandbox with really good teams. There is no hiding behind school enrollment. The top eight teams are in Division I, the next eight in Division II, and on down the line.
The NCS has a competitive equity model, too, but it’s based on playoff results over the previous three seasons. Teams can be moved from their natural enrollment division, up or down, but all teams in the section know before each season which division they’re in.
MORE PREP FOOTBALL COVERAGE
- Roundup: Best of CCS, NCS playoff openers
- Results: Weekend scoreboard, how Top 25 fared
- Instant classic: Bellarmine wins thriller over Los Gatos
- Top-seeded St. Francis tested in CCS opener by Aptos
- California blanks Monte Vista in second half to advance
Generally, the largest schools are still in the top divisions, the small schools in the lower divisions.
Twelve schools were in the Division I pool this fall, vying for eight playoff spots.
In Division II, 17 aimed for eight spots.
This season’s results had nothing to do with division placement. They only played a role in the selection and seeding process.
How’d that go?
Now well. Not well at all.
The epic mismatches that were obvious after the NCS seeding meeting unfolded as we all figured they would. Brutally one-sided.
Anyone up for partaking in a playoff game that ends 66-0?
How about 68-7?
Those were the scores of two NCS games this weekend.
Meanwhile, the competitive-equity model in the neighboring CCS unfolded as those who devised the format envisioned. Most of the games were highly entertaining.
The Bay Area News Group crunched the numbers, comparing the first-round results between the two sections. Here is what our data showed:
By the numbers
CCS
Total first-round games: 20
Point differential: 318
The average margin of victory: 15.9
Single-digit games: 8
NCS
Total first-round games: 27
Point differential: 850
The average margin of victory: 31.5
Single-digit games: 4
Breakdown by division
CCS
DIVISION I
No. 3 Bellarmine 34, No. 6 Los Gatos 27
No. 2 Serra 41, No. 7 Valley Christian 30
No. 5 Menlo-Atherton 35, No. 4 Salinas 31
No. 1 St. Francis 56, No. 8 Aptos 28
Point differential: 50
The average margin of victory: 12.5
Biggest blowout: 56-28 (Score was tied 28-28 in the fourth quarter)
Single-digit games: 2
DIVISION II
No. 3 Wilcox 42, No. 6 Santa Cruz 23
No. 7 St. Ignatius 28, No. 2 Palma 0
No. 4 Menlo School 47, No. 5 Half Moon Bay 28
No. 1 San Benito 31, No. 8 Burlingame 28
Point differential: 69
The average margin of victory: 17.25
Biggest blowout: 28-0
Single-digit games: 1
DIVISION III
No. 3 Sacred Heart Cathedral 21, No. 6 Leigh 0
No. 7 Mountain View 28, No. 2 Live Oak 21
No. 4 Christopher 28, No. 5 Palo Alto 27
No. 1 Leland 27, No. 8 Scotts Valley 9
Point differential: 47
The average margin of victory: 11.75
Biggest blowout: 21-0
Single-digit games: 2
DIVISION IV
No. 3 Sacred Heart Prep 42, No. 6 Alisal 0
No. 2 Hillsdale 28, No. 7 Lincoln-San Jose 7
No. 4 Santa Teresa 45, No. 5 Pioneer 42, 3 OT
No. 1 Homestead 14, No. 8 Milpitas 0
Point differential: 80
The average margin of victory: 20
Biggest blowout: 42-0
Single-digit games: 1
DIVISION V
No. 6 Los Altos 36, No. 3 Soquel 30
No. 7 St. Francis-Watsonville 38, No. 2 Cupertino 13
No. 5 North Salinas 28, No. 5 San Mateo 21
No. 1 Aragon 48, No. 8 Andrew Hill 14
Point differential: 72
The average margin of victory: 18
Biggest blowout: 48-14
Single-digit games: 2
NCS
OPEN/DIVISION I
No. 1 De La Salle 49, No. 8 James Logan 13 (Score was 49-3 at halftime)
No. 2 Pittsburg 68, No. 7 Amador Valley 7
No. 3 Clayton Valley 42, No. 6 Antioch 21
No. 5 California 48, No. 4 Monte Vista 21
Point differential: 145
The average margin of victory: 36.25
Biggest blowout: 68-7
Single-digit games: 0
DIVISION II
No. 1 San Ramon Valley 35, No. 8 Livermore 7
No. 4 Campolindo 38, No. 5 Dublin 28
No. 3 Foothill 39, No. 6 San Leandro 13
No. 2 Rancho Cotate 37, No. 7 Granada 0
Point differential: 101
The average margin of victory: 25.25
Biggest blowout: 37-0
Single-digit games: 0
DIVISION III
No. 1 Windsor 35, No. 8 Northgate 17
No. 4 El Cerrito 40, No. 5 Acalanes 32
No. 2 Las Lomas 49, No. 7 Montgomery 10
No. 3 Benicia 43, No. 6 Casa Grande 20
Point differential: 88
The average margin of victory: 22
Biggest blowout: 49-10
Single-digit games: 1
DIVISION IV
No. 1 Marin Catholic 66, No. 8 Mt. Diablo 0
No. 4 Tamalpais 27, No. 5 Petaluma 21
No. 2 Cardinal Newman 56, No. 7 Newark Memorial 6
No. 3 Tennyson 65, No. 6 Vallejo 7
Point differential: 180
The average margin of victory: 45
Biggest blowout: 66-0
Single-digit games: 1
DIVISION V
No. 1 San Marin 42, No. 8 Hercules 6
No. 4 St. Bernard’s 14, No. 5 De Anza 7
No. 2 Del Norte 49, No. 7 Archie Williams 6
No. 6 Miramonte 42, No. 3 Encinal 23
Point differential: 105
The average margin of victory: 26.25
Biggest blowout: 49-6
Single-digit games: 1
DIVISION VI
No. 1. Salesian (Bye)
No. 4 Middletown 34, No. 5 Pinole Valley 6
No. 2 Arcata 44, No. 7 San Lorenzo 0
No. 3 Justin-Siena 31, No. 6 Saint Mary’s-Berkeley 13
Point differential: 90
The average margin of victory: 30
Biggest blowout: 44-0
Single-digit games: 0
DIVISION VII
No. 1 St Vincent de Paul 57, No. 8 St Patrick-St Vincent 0
No. 5 Clear Lake 40, No. 4 Hoopa Valley 0
No. 2 St Helena 48, No. 7 McKinleyville 6
No. 3 Cloverdale 28, No. 6 Berean Christian 26
Point differential: 141
The average margin of victory: 35-25
Biggest blowout: 57-0
Single-digit games: 1
— Darren Sabedra
(Check out Mike Lefkow’s mock NCS brackets below)
Heartbreaking finish for Los Gatos
The euphoria was obvious on the Bellarmine sideline Friday night as Thomas Di Vittorio ran 94 yards for a pick-six touchdown in the final minute, turning what looked like a certain defeat against Los Gatos into a stunning 34-27 victory.
On the other side, well after the clock struck zero, several Los Gatos players sat near midfield, staring toward the scoreboard. They had a great year. Ten wins, no losses in the regular season. A league championship. But it was over now, moments after Boise State-bound Jake Ripp gave Los Gatos a shot, intercepting a pass to set up what could have been the decisive score for the Wildcats.
“I could not be more proud, obviously,” Los Gatos coach Mark Krail said. “They battled, and it wasn’t easy. That was a good team we played tonight. Had a chance to win it at the end. Looked like we didn’t and then we got a big play with the interception. Kind of put us down near. We called a play that worked several times during the year, one on one with Jake Ripp, and they tipped the ball at the line of scrimmage. We all saw it.
“This time of year, somebody’s got to go home, and there’s always good football being played, and tonight was no exception.”
— Darren Sabedra
Quote of the weekend
“We didn’t want to put a scare, we wanted to win. I was extremely proud of the kids. They battled, that’s what I wanted to see.” — Aptos coach Randy Blankenship, after his team matched a St. Francis team that beat De La Salle this season score for score through three quarters Friday night but faded in the fourth.
Lincoln-San Jose’s maiden playoff voyage
“For 23 years, we won our last game of the year.”
That was Lincoln coach Kevin Collins on Saturday, the day after his Lions lost to Hillsdale 28-7 in the first round of the Central Coast Section Division IV playoffs. All 23 of those victories had come against the same team in the annual Big Bone game, played on Thanksgiving morning between Lincoln and San Jose.
That changed after the 2019 season. The teams didn’t play during last spring’s Covid shortened campaign. This fall they played on Sept. 3. Lincoln won 56-12. It was the Lions’ second game of the season. There would be eight more to follow.
When asked what it was like to be involved in the CCS playoffs rather than in an exhibition game that kept the tradition alive and some alumni happy, Collins paused, then said, “It’s hard to compare. It was a different experience, but in a positive way.”
Collins noted that Friday’s playoff game attracted fewer fans from Lincoln than the Big Bone contest typically did.
“Driving to San Mateo on a Friday afternoon impacted the turnout,” he said.
The atmosphere also was different. The Big Bone game on Thanksgiving was more “celebratory,” Collins said.
As for the section playoffs, there is a “pride getting there,” the coach said. “But there is a finality for a lot of teams.”
Collins said the Lincoln players have vowed to get to CCS every year. One of these years, maybe the season will end with the Lincoln Lions winning their last game.
— Mike Lefkow
Serra: One rematch down, another on its way
After completing a sweep of Valley Christian, Serra will now try to do the same to Bellarmine on Saturday in the semifinals of the CCS Division I playoffs.
The Padres beat Bellarmine 41-7 on Oct. 2 but lost their best playmaker, senior Hassan Mahasin, to a season-ending knee injury in the game.
Serra coach Patrick Walsh anticipates a challenge Saturday, noting the great job that second-year coach Jalal Beauchman has done to return Bellarmine to prominence.
“The joy of being a Bell is back on campus,” Walsh said after his team’s 41-30 victory over Valley on Saturday. “That was very apparent early in the season, during the season, and particularly last night. There is something about being a Bellarmine Bell that Jalal was and is and is bringing back. I just see a lot of spirit. I see a lot of enthusiasm and a lot of guys who believe in coach Beauchman.
“That’s always difficult, and that’s what I just told the team.”
— Darren Sabedra
Peek ahead: Playoffs, Week 2
No. 5 Menlo-Atherton (9-2) at No. 1 St. Francis (10-0), CCS Division I semifinal, Friday, 7 p.m.: Playmakers all over the field, many of whom were former Pop Warner teammates.
No. 4 Menlo School (11-0) at No. 1 San Benito (9-1), CCS Division II semifinal, Friday, 7 p.m.: Is there anyone left who doubts Menlo School and its star QB Sergio Beltran?
No. 2 Pittsburg (8-1) at No. 1 De La Salle (9-2), NCS Open Division final, Friday, 7 p.m.: Winner moves on to state; the loser gets a do-over in NCS Division I final the following week.
No. 5 California (8-3) at No. 3 Clayton Valley (8-3), NCS Open/Division I semifinal, Friday, 7 p.m.: Clayton Valley has its shot to avenge a 19-18 loss at California on Oct. 8.
No. 4 Campolindo (8-3) at No. 1 San Ramon Valley (8-3), NCS Division II semifinal, Friday, 7 p.m.: Campo has come a long way since its 49-0 loss to Aptos, but SRV will be a big test.
No. 3 Benicia (8-3) at No. 2 Las Lomas (8-3), NCS Division III semifinal, Friday, 7 p.m.: Two weeks ago, Las Lomas won at Benicia 35-21 to claim a piece of a league title with Benicia and Campo.
How NCS brackets could’ve looked
Bay Area News Group correspondent Mike Lefkow put together mock NCS playoff brackets Sunday, in the order of calpreps.com’s computer ratings. The CCS uses calpreps.com as part of its points formula but not exclusively. Because the NCS doesn’t have a formula of its own, Lefkow went strictly by the latest calpreps.com ratings.
Note: Some of these teams didn’t qualify for the playoffs in the NCS’s current model.
Division I
No. 8 Marin Catholic at No. 1 De La Salle
No. 7 Windsor at No. 2 Pittsburg
No. 6 Rancho Cotate at No. 3 Clayton Valley
No. 5 California at No. 4 San Ramon Valley
Division II
No. 8 Cardinal Newman at No. 1 Monte Vista
No. 7 Antioch at No. 2 Foothill
No. 6 Del Norte at No. 3 Las Lomas
No. 5 El Cerrito at No. 4 Benicia
Division III
No. 8 Amador Valley at No. 1 Campolindo
No. 7 St. Bernard’s at No. 2 Liberty
No. 6 San Leandro at No. 3 San Marin
No. 5. St. Vincent de Paul at No. 4 Dublin
Division IV
No. 8 Tamalpais at No. 1 Acalanes
No. 7 Livermore at No. 2 Heritage
No. 6 St. Helena at No. 3 Tennyson
No. 5 Vintage at No. 4 James Logan
Division V
No. 8 Bishop O’Dowd at No. 1 Casa Grande
No. 7 Granada at No. 2 Northgate
No. 6 Miramonte at No. 3 Montgomery
No. 5 De Anza at No. 4 Redwood
Division VI
No. 8 West County at No. 1 American Canyon
No. 7 Santa Rosa at No. 2 Encinal
No. 6 Castro Valley at No. 3 Salesian
No. 5 Petaluma at No. 4 Clear Lake
Division VII
No. 8 Fortuna at No. 1 Archie Williams (formerly Drake)
No. 7 College Park at No. 2 Middletown
No. 6 Cloverdale ar No. 3 Arcata
No. 5 Justin Siena at No. 4 Dougherty Valley
0 comments:
Post a Comment